St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-10-02
TAX LEVY OF '88.
City Financiers Discuss the Tax Rate
For Next Year.
THE COMPTROLLER'S IDEAS.
Peter Berkey Complains of Loose
Management and Mr. Murray
Replies.

The great economist, Comptroller
John Roche, has prepared his estimates
of the sums necessary to be raised by
taxation for the expenses of the various
departments of the city governments and
to pay the interest on the city'S bonds,
for 1888. Mr.. Roche is not yet ready to
have the estimates published, but he
will present them to the council at its
meeting next Tuesday evening, when
that body will be called upon to fix the
tax rate for the ensuing year. In this
connection the cOnncil committees on
taxes and ways and means, held a meet
ing at the city hall yesterday afternoon.
The cOmptroller'S estimates were sub
mitted to these committees and Peter
Berkey, DR.. Schiffmann and w. p. Muir
ray in executive session. The committees
discussed the amount of the tax levy for
two hours, but could not enter upon any
definite figures to recommend to the
council. 1t was a rather miXed-up pro-
ceeding, but what the gentlemen said to
one another might not look well in
print. Comptroller Roche had two OF
three things to say about the reckless
expenditure of money for receptions
and banquetS, about the unlawful de-
mandS of the board of education for
more than its share of the tax money,
and about the general liberal policy of
the city government in the matter of
finances. Comptroller Roche is Il con-
sentative genius, and likes to see every
cent of the city'S money well spent. DR..
Schiffmann, representingo the financial
committee of the board of education,
was there, and he and Mr.. Roche
TALKED BUSINESS.
The board of education has asked the
city for 1888, 000, out of the tax fund in
addition to the 100000, in bonds author
lied by the legislature for building new
schoOl-houSeS. DR.. Schiffmann said they
absolutely must have this much and Mr..
Roche said they absolutely could not
have it. because the law provided that
the school board should not spend more
than one mill on the dollar of assessed
valuation for new building. This rate
would give them S70,0 on the assessed
valuation, which is to be S90,S0o, 900.
Then Peter Berkey. banker and heavy
taxpayer was there, and he had tilt
with Aid. SanbOrn and Mr.. Murray.
Mr.. Berkey complained as usual. that
the taxes were altogether too high, and
the expenditures altogether to great.
quoted DR.. Schitfmann'S statement about
the board of education: 1--WE have
been living continually from hand to
mouth, and when we hadn't any money
because our bonds were not sold, we
Induced contractors to go ahead and
cent. interest until paid, and they got
the estimates cashed at the bank
Banker Berkey has been buying these
estimates with borrowed Eastern money.
He has shaved the estimates from to
per cent, and in addition draws the
per cent. allowed by the board of edu-
cation. When he complained that the
board ought not to have work done that
it couldn't pay for, Mr.. Murray inquired
if the margin between the interest on
the estimates and what he could borrow
money for in Eastern markets wasn't
quite enough to pay him for his trouble.
Mr.. Murray was of the same opinion as
Banker Berkey that the board should
not have work done that it couldn't pay
for, but thought the tax levy should be
LIBERAL ENOUGH
to bring money into the treasury with
which to pay the necessary eXpendi-
lures. Mr.. Berkeley thought 10 mills
was big enough tax rate; Comptroller
Roche thought 20 would surely do; Aid.
SanbOrn and Aid. Kahn and Aid. Cullen
were divided between 20 and 81 mills;
Corporation Attorney Murray was in
favor of % mills, and DR.. Schiffman
wanted s133,0O0 for the board of educa-
ton whether or no. Mr.. Berkey men-
toned the fact that 800 saloons would
take out the $1,000 license and that
would bring in quite revenue, but no
body else thought there would be over
250 saloons running under the high
license. The great financiers could not
agree, so they adjourned, and Comp
trOller ROche's estimates will be sub
mitted direct to the council. All he
would say to the reporters was: "The
levy will be made on the basis of
total assessed valuation of 0,S00.0 900.
1t will be, proportiOnately,
little less than this year. The real
estate valuations are only taken every
two years and so the levy will be made
on real estate values in 1886. The i'll
crease is only in building improve
ments, which made about $4,000, OO0."
Figuring the tax rate at 20 mills, the
total sum which Mr.. Roche will get to
run the financial end of city affairs will
be 81, S16.0O0.